E-Strip®

A faster, simpler alternative to Almen strip intensity verification

Rethinking Peening Intensity Measurement

The current method for peening intensity measurement uses Almen strips, which have been developed in the 1930s and have not evolved significantly in decades. The use of Almen strips is expensive in labor cost and machine usage as it requires peening of several metal strips at different times in order to generate a saturation curve.

Once the saturation curve has been obtained, one must use the 10% rule to find the intensity. This rule requires several mathematical manipulations which make it complicated for most operators. Because of these limitations, production verification of intensity is kept to a minimum and the quality assurance of individual parts is maintained by tracking other process parameters.

A Simpler Way to Measure Peening Intensity

It is our objective to introduce an easier, faster, better and greener electronic sensor for intensity measurement and verification. The use of Almen strips requires that you measure pre-bow of the strip, install the strip on the holder, peen the strip for a period of time, remove the strip from the holder and measure the arc height of the strip with a dedicated gage. All these steps are required simply for an intensity verification. If you need to generate a saturation curve, these steps have to be repeated for a minimum of 4 Almen strips peened to different periods of time. All this data is then entered in a dedicated software to generate a saturation curve using curve fit algorithms.

The E-Strip® eliminates all these steps. See how it works in the FAQ below.

Advantages of Using the E-Strip®

Faster

No more disposable strip setup. Mount once, reuse thousands of times, with results sent wirelessly for rapid readings even during production.
N

Simpler

No saturation curve, no intensity calculation. Peening time is no longer a factor in determining intensity.

Greener

One reusable sensor replaces a large volume of disposable Almen strips.

Leaner

Cuts the ongoing cost of shipping, storage, and strip replacement.

Smarter

Records peening data for every part: intensity histograms, impact counts, and more, for stronger quality assurance.

How the E-Strip® Measures Intensity

Engineering & Certification
The E-Strip® was designed and built by Shockform exclusively for measuring the impact force of peening media, following more than 4 years of Research and Development.

The E-Strip® is CE certified and meets all safety and emissions requirements. Because impact energy varies with the size, hardness, and velocity of each media particle, the sensor’s proprietary algorithm accounts for this variability when calculating Almen-equivalent intensity.

Correlation to Almen Intensity
The E-Strip® is factory calibrated to output “Equivalent Intensity” for CW28 using the calibration parameters generated at production. Just like a Magnavalve, the E-Strip® output must be correlated differently to use different media than CW28 or significantly different peening parameters.

Almen intensity is an artificial and indirect measure of impact force, as it relates to the arc height deformation of a strip of metal. Eventually, it will be possible to correlate E-Strip® output voltage directly to Force, which relates to base units of distance, mass, and time. This will greatly facilitate the understanding of the peening process.

Software & Reporting
The E-Strip® software displays an intensity histogram showing the distribution of individual impacts, useful for evaluating nozzle setup effectiveness. The number of recorded impacts also correlates closely with media flow rate.

Shockform can also custom design reports with a dedicated logo and format to suit specific customer requirements.

Kit Options

Two kit configurations are planned, each scalable to your operation’s needs.

E-Strip® Kit #ESK-101

One (1) Tablet with software

One (1) E-Strip® Sensor

One (1) Battery Charger

One (1) Battery Charger Base

One (1) Dongle

E-Strip® Kit #ESK-105

One (1) Tablet with software

Five (5) E-Strip® Sensor

Five (5) Battery Charger

One (1) Battery Charger Base

One (1) Dongle

Additional components, such as sensors and battery chargers, can be purchased to complement a kit, with no limit to the number of sensors used per tablet. The E-Strip® uses a pay-per-use credit system, where each measurement subtracts one credit from the card. Credit cards are available in different volumes (100, 500, and 1000 credits) to match your usage needs.

See the E-Strip® in Action

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How does the E-Strip® work?
The peening media stream passes over the sensor, which records the impact force of each particle. A proprietary algorithm calculates the energy of the stream and relates it back to Almen intensity, displayed almost instantly on a connected computer or tablet.
What size and mounting does the E-Strip® use?
The E-Strip® matches the size and screw pattern of a standard SAE J442 Almen strip holder, making it easy to install on most existing jigs and fixtures.
What intensity ranges are available?
Sensors are available for A scale intensity and a lower-intensity N scale. Sensitivity levels can be selected to match different media sizes and peening conditions.
How is the E-Strip® correlated to Almen intensity?
Each E-Strip® is factory calibrated using standard correlation parameters, supplied on its calibration certificate. You can fine-tune this correlation for your own machine, media, and saturation curves.
How does the E-Strip® connect to a computer?
Data is sent via a protected wireless protocol using a dedicated dongle, viewable through Shockform’s dedicated tablet or computer software, which displays intensity, impact count, and process data.
Can the E-Strip® be used with automated peening equipment?
Yes. An Application Programming Interface (API) allows the E-Strip® system to communicate directly with a peening machine’s Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) via HTTP requests, supporting automated operation.
Can the E-Strip® help identify problems with my peening setup?
Yes. The E-Strip® is more sensitive than Almen strips to process variations, helping identify issues like inconsistent media flow, misaligned nozzles, unbalanced multi-nozzle output, or fixture vibration.
Can the E-Strip® reduce how often I need to perform Almen verifications?
Yes. The E-Strip® can be used to gradually extend Almen verification intervals by cross-checking results between Almen and E-Strip® readings over time.
What industries can use the E-Strip®?
The E-Strip® is suited for dry-media peening in aerospace, automotive, nuclear, energy generation, and other industrial applications.
I'm interested in the E-Strip®. How do I get this technology?
The E-Strip® is currently undergoing advanced testing with major aerospace OEMs and is not yet available for purchase. Contact us at sales@shockform.com to discuss your intensity measurement needs and be informed as it progresses toward commercial availability.